Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [cutting]

177 questions
25
votes
12 answers

How do I hand saw in a straight line?

Whenever I use a hand saw, I find I keep subconsciously curving the cut, no matter how much I consciously try to compensate. In this example in photos, to get this cut straight I kept rotating the pole, but from the messy spiral shape, you can see…
Stewart
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19
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6 answers

What is the best way to cut receptacle holes when hanging drywall?

I will be installing drywall in a 10x10 room this weekend, walls only. I'm planning to use the longer sheets so there is only a single horizontal seam on each wall and install the top sheet first, flush against the existing ceiling. My question is,…
dslake
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17
votes
6 answers

Can you cut electrical cables cleanly with an angle grinder?

I need to cut a very small damaged section of a welding machine grounding 16mm² cable to remake the connection, but I only have those smaller pliers which likely won't work for cutting it. I was thinking about using an angle grinder to avoid buying…
IanC
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17
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9 answers

Why is the cut using a jigsaw not a perfect straight line?

I attempted to test-cut a straight line using my new electric jigsaw. Therefore, I clamped a piece of scrap wood and used another piece as guide, marked the cut lines using a pencil and fitted the jigsaw with the blade and cut. But my cut is like…
Dimitrios Desyllas
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14
votes
5 answers

Cutting larger pieces on table saw

As the photo shows, I want to cut some larger pieces of plywood. The right edge is not straight, but even if I get it straight, I will not be able to easily cut it using the rip fence. And the miter gauge won't work because the piece is too wide. I…
fixit7
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14
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11 answers

What is the right tool to cut a clothesline made of coated steel?

I have a clothesline that is made of 5-6 braided tiny steel wires that is coated with flexible plastic. I need to cut it to smaller segments, I tried using a cable cutter made of carbon steel but it barely worked and the wires kept fraying or…
Yahia El-Masry
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11
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7 answers

How can I cut a brick?

I need to cut a brick to a particular size to fit it in that area. I am not sure which tool I use or buy. I have asked several places, but they have expensive tools which I can't afford.
Sanjoy
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11
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7 answers

Can you use a router like a saw to cut wood?

Can one use a router to cut wood in a similar way that a jigsaw would cut wood? What are the upsides and downsides of using a router to cut wood? It seems simple enough, but then again, I've never used either machine. I would think that you could…
Fil
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10
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6 answers

How do I cut an arc in a pine board?

How can I cut the arc as shown in the photo? I have a circular saw. I have a jig saw. I thought I might calculate the center of the arcs circle and (using a line tied to my circular saw) cut the curve on a clamped down 1 x 4. I don't have a very…
Marinaio
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7
votes
3 answers

How to cut wood panel for angled ceiling?

I am adding wood paneling to the wall, as you can see above. Starting with the next panel in the coming row I will need to cut the left end to fit the angle of the ceiling. How to I determine the angle I need to set my miter saw to?
Chris
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7
votes
3 answers

What tools do I need to make a straight cut in laminated chipboard?

It's 38mm thick. Next week I will need to cut it along a straight line, and I would like the cut to be as straight and clean as possible. What tools do I need to do this ?
alecail
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6
votes
6 answers

Can/Should I use an angle grinder with a blade for metals on PVC coated metal?

I have a large door frame that I want to break into smaller pieces so I can fit it into my car and take it to the dump. The frame is PVC, but has steel on the inside. I've been trying to avoid an angle grinder because of everything I've been reading…
Ratler
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6
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4 answers

Tabletop saw stops midway through chipboard

I am new to woodworking and I tried my ''new'' secondhand table saw (General LR63420 Model D) today. It cut through the first few chipboard boards just fine but then had a lot of trouble going through the middle of a 4 x 8 chipboard board. I am…
Laurent
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5
votes
6 answers

Cutting structural steel

I have a few 8-9m lengths of 200x100 rectangular hollow section (5mm) and 150x150 equal angle (10mm) sitting outside. These are to be used to maintain the strength of a brick wall which is having openings cut in it. (The steel has been specified by…
jbg
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5
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3 answers

Is a special circular saw blade needed to cut plastic?

We purchased two portable air conditioners for our bedrooms. It include a plastic window kit that can be fitted for the window. I.e., this: I need to trim off about 6 inches, which requires a simple straight cut. Doing it by hand is challenging…
Bill
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